Sporting Lisbon Preview.

Win tonight. Top the group with two easier games to go. Job done.

Perhaps the post should stop here!

Man Utd and Spurs completely undeserved victory will hopefully keep them out of the Europa. There seems to be heightened expectations that we will win this tournament but, like the Carabao, it is relatively easy until the final rounds.

Sporting Lisbon have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 30 European games, I expect that run to continue. Having said that, we have not kept a clean sheet in our last 5 European games!

We have discussed Sporting in the first leg and we have little to add. They are a decent team, strong defensively, hard working … the usual. We should beat them in a home tie.

We have injuries and players returning to the squad, they should remain out of the team. A mixture of youth and experience is what is required.

My Team:

Helmet

Licht Mustafi Holding Wardrobe

Ramsey Curly Smith Rowe (Lab) AMN (Cons)

Mhiki Welbz

A strong attacking bench will allow Mr Emery to play a very inexperienced and young midfield. I very much doubt he will play this team but it would be fun. Xhaka needs a rest, and I would keep Iwobi for Wolves at the weekend, same with Laca, Hector, Terrier and PEA.

Tonight’s 6 officials (referee, linesman, behind the goal-line linesmen and 4th official) are from Lithuania, could this be a first?

Not as easy a fixture as many are assuming, this will not be a walkover.

Enjoy the game

COYRRG

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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 8th, 2018 at 9:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Thank you, Raddy. 🙂 Yes, can be a somewhat tricky game, but not much else to get excited about.

However it matters. Win this game and we have the option of seeing our academy guys in action in the next two. Self preservation is key and hence I expect Mr Emery to field the strongest possible team in this one.

RC. So a couple of changes from my choice – Smith Rowe and Mustafi out.

Agree about Sokratis – if he is fit. I would prefer to see Iwobi rested ahead of Wolves and then a long trip to Nigeria in the Interlull (who are playing South Africa and Uganda in the African Nations)

Thanks Raddy – it’s a good day when it starts off with one of your PM’s.

I’m always excited when Arsenal play. Our team under Emery have become very difficult to beat and he will want to finish first in Group E. Sporting are the only serious opposition and a win would put us 6 points ahead of them with two very winnable games remaining.

We can see from what happened last night with Sterling how things have changed and yet they have not changed.

Sterling tripped up over his own feet or kicked the ground and fell over and the ref gave a penalty.

I remember a number of years ago, in a home match against Pool, Robbie Fowler fell in the box when challenged by Seaman.
A penalty was given and scored, and that was how it ended.

So what has not changed is that refs still hand out penalties and advantages when they should not.

What has changed is that Fowler ran after the ref and pleaded with him not to give a penalty as Seaman had not touched him and the ref refused to listen to him.

Sterling, so I understand, did nothing.

So what has changed is that the players have become more dishonest. Although Sterling has a reputation as a diver, if last night’s incident was as reported, then that does not bode well for the future.

They all cheat.
The reward of getting a free shot from 12 yards is far too high for the majority of incidents in the 18 yard area.
Until that changes, cheating will continue.

Franny Lee was the first I can remember with a reputation for diving.

In the early 70s there was a joke that Man City had signed a Chinese player called Lee (Pen) as he “won” and scored so many.
After retiring, he ran a successful toilet roll business which made him a millionaire. That about sums it all up!

Not a great game to watch. Did anybody see Ramsey on the pitch? He was our worse player…Lack of movement from Smith-Rowe as well. I thought Miky looked like he was getting frustrated by the lack of movement around him…Iwobi also not his usual self. Only Guendouzi running like a maniac and Miky trying to create some play. Good entrance by Kola

I think that Miky is playing well actually, his passing is good and he is asking for the ball. I think some of the movement in front and on the side of him are lacking though BUT I am sure that once there is more movement, he is gonna rack up the assists and goals because the moment there is movement, he pick the right pass. Watch THE Ramsey Goal, he actually creates it

What a blow for Danny…such a shame and just pure bad luck slightly off balance from the header.

Knew it was bad, personally don’t want to see any picture, my guess is BT must have had another angle to show but fair play to them they played the angle from far away (even at half time) and said that’s all we have can’t see it any clearer….but the mood of Keown and Cole told more.

Shame Licht pulled hamstring hopefully just a pull and not tea he didn’t go down in agony, but that’s the risk of old legs in a position that requires a lot of running, muscle fatigue will eventually tell and he has been playing a lot of games. Shame we had already removed the Corporal as he could have gone to right back.

And thinking on that surprised Emery didn’t start Kola at left back and the Corporal on right but I guess we are a little thin in full back positions.